Pat's Run returning to Tempe

More than 20,000 runners, walkers, volunteers and spectators are expected to participate in this Saturday's 5th annual Pat's Run Tempe.

This 4.2 mile run/walk celebrates the life of former ASU football player and Army Ranger, Pat Tillman. Proceeds from the race benefit the Pat Tillman Foundation and its Leadership through Action initiatives. Here's a rundown of information:

Packet pick up

Packet pickup and registration is open until 6 p.m. Friday at the north end of Sun Devil Stadium. Runners can also go prior to race on Saturday on Packard Drive at the Registration Desk from 5:00 a.m to 6:30 a.m. Packets include a technical race shirt, race bib, final instructions and goodie bag. Race t-shirts must be picked up by the time of the race.

Road closures

• The Arizona Dept. of Transportation is holding off on the start of a weekend northbound closure of Loop 101 (Price Freeway) between US 60 and Loop 202. That closure is now scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Pats Run participants leaving the area after the event are encouraged to use Rural Road north to eastbound Loop 202 to access Loop 101.

• ADOT also reports that westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) will be closed between Country Club Drive and Loop 101 in Mesa from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Participants coming from the east should consider using westbound US 60 to northbound Loop 101 to approach the area.

• Southbound Loop 101 (Pima Freeway) will be closed between Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Via de Ventura in the Scottsdale area from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday (April 20). Traffic will detour south on Hayden Road. Participants traveling from the North Valley should consider using southbound State Route 51 to eastbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway) as an alternate route to ASU.

Start times

Pat's Run will start at 7 a.m. The wheelchair race begins at 6:55 a.m. There is also a Kid's Race at 9:15 a.m. All races finish on the 42-yard line of Sun Devil Stadium. (Tillman wore No. 42 as a linebacker at ASU).

Getting there

Limited free parking is available in the parking lots surrounding ASU. An alternative is take ride the light rail, which has a stop located at Veterans Way and College Avenue, a ½ mile from the race start line. Trains run every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. One-way passes cost $1.25. Valley METRO representatives will be at Packet Pickup to provide information on how to best utilize light rail on race day. You may also ride your bike as a great pre-race warm up. There will be a fence set up near the start line where you may lock your bike.

Awards

Awards will be presented to the top male and female in each of the following age group divisions: overall winner, 1-15, 16-25, 26-39, 40-42, 43-49, 50-59, and 60-69, 70+. Awards will also be presented to the top male and female in the following divisions: Wheelchair, Clydesdale (225 - 274 pounds, male), Super Clydesdale (275 pounds and above, male), Athena (175 pounds and above, female). Awards will be presented to teams who generate the most participants in the team divisions. The fastest team will also receive an award (minimum 5 finishers).